Baptismal font from Hildesheim on visit to the Museum Schnütgen
20 March – 29 June 2014
For three months, a unique work of art was on exhibit at the Museum Schnütgen: the bronze baptismal font from St. Mary’s Cathedral in Hildesheim. The font was given to the cathedral by Wilbernus, Provost of Hildesheim, and is one of the most important bronze artworks to survive from the Middle Ages.
Including its original lid, the font is about 170 cm high and is supported by personifications of the four Rivers of Paradise. Eight sculptural reliefs on the sides of the baptismal font and its lid depict important scenes from the Old and New Testaments that refer to the sacrament of baptism. They are framed by allegorical figures.
The artistic quality of the reliefs is just as exceptional as the technical expertise of the rare cast bronzework. The baptismal font dates back to around 1226, which is just about the period when Nicholas of Verdun was completing the Shrine of the Magi in Cologne. The name of the master who created the Hildesheim baptismal font is unknown, but he certainly was one of the major artists of his time. His striking rendition of the figures bridges the gap between Romanesque treasury art and the sculptural programmes of French Gothic cathedrals.
Following its exhibition at Museum Schnütgen, the baptismal font returned to St. Mary’s Cathedral in Hildesheim, which had been under renovation. The exhibition of the work in Cologne was arranged by the Hildesheim Cathedral Museum and the Friends of Museum Schnütgen, Pro Arte Medii Aevi.
A catalogue put together by the Hildesheim Cathedral Museum is available at the museum for 9.90 €.
